Our vase this week will feature our first peony to bloom. We have really fallen in love with Itoh peonies, and ‘ Keiko’ is one of our favorites. Itoh peonies are expensive but I think they are worth it. They are a cross between a traditional peony and a tree peony. They put out huge blooms, stand tall without staking, and, in a word, are beautiful.

View from overhead:

And as seen in the garden:

The invitation to share what is blooming in our gardens in a vase each week comes from Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Please visit her and see what she and others are sharing with us this week.

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

About johnvic8

John Viccellio retired after 24 years in the U. S. Navy and began to dig into gardening when he could finally land in one place. He completed the Master Gardener course in 1992 and has since designed and constructed two of his own gardens. He wrote a monthly garden column for ten years and was a regular contributor to Carolina Gardener magazine. John published his first book, Guess What's in My Garden!, in 2014.
He lives in Stallings, NC with his wife, in close proximity to six of his eight grandchildren.

Oh what a beautiful pink peony….love the color….perfect for your vase! Mine will flower in early June! I have not grown any Itoh, but may have to after seeing this one! Do they also have a scent like the old-fashioned peony?

I’m incredibly jealous. I’ve had that very same peony in my back garden for 3 years now and it bloomed once – the year I purchased the plant. Between the heat and our water restrictions, it doesn’t appear to like coastal Southern California very much but I haven’t given up (and dug it up) yet.

Stay with it, Kris. I have two new Itoh peonies this year that came up beautifully but have no buds on them. Based on previous experience, they should be great next year. I think they are worth the wait….but it is frustrating. Good luck with yours.

A Walk in the Garden

Please join me for A Walk in the Garden: a way of sharing gardening observations, spiced I hope with a dash of experience, a dollop of opinion, a slice of irreverence, a spoonful of love for plants, and a cup full of memories.

Download Guess What’s in My Garden!

My ebook is available for iPad/iPhone, Kindle, and Nook. Click on the appropriate link below.